Dean Michael Berris

So this past week I've been trying to improve my workflow as I prepare to limit the amount of time I spend working or being in "work mode". One of the reasons I am trying to do this is to that I can make time for my family that is about to be one member larger pretty soon. The prospect of not having time for my family is not a good prospect for me so I tried out some simple rules I impose on myself when I'm at work. This is a high level summary of the techniques I use that you might find useful too. (Read more by clicking on the title).

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I was fortunate enough to not be too affected by the recent passing typhoon Ondoy except for a full day of no electricity from Saturday to Sunday. However though, I'm not feeling so well -- not in a physical manner. I think what just happened to the Philippines and Manila has given me a disconnected feeling, a feeling which weighs heavy in me, a feeling that gives me that feeling of gloom. I'd like to kick it, but nothing I've tried would make me want to leave the house now. I'll get over this hopefully by tomorrow so that I can get on with my life and getting connected again to the world.

One of the things that cause me to get excited and in the mood to do something is a challenge. I cannot turn down an interesting challenge especially if I think I'll learn a lot of things while tackling the challenge. Definitely when dealing with a challenge I am DOA -- Daring, Observant, and Active. But there's more to a challenge than just the challenge, it's the high of being able to meet the challenge -- and the high of just being challenged. In recent years I found out that once I'm no longer challenged I find myself in an uneasy state, perhaps not ready to rest easy because I'm not solving someone else's problems (or my own problems). And boy am I faced with a challenge this time.

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